The ugly side of diversity

While the title of this article might be considered "politically incorrect," many people will agree with me - at least to some degree - that some diversity isn't all that great.

Let's recognize that some aspects of diversity result in a cultural richness for our society. From sports to foods, from art to music, from literature to architecture, our society has gained from the kind of diversity that Americans have embraced since our inception.

However, I'm not talking about that kind of diversity. I'm talking about diversity as it applies to fundamental beliefs, morals, ideals and the general perception of government in our society.

Our country was established on the concept of personal responsibility and self-sufficiency. Charitable giving and sharing was done with personal implementation and with accountability. When our government takes on a larger and larger role of "Nanny State," not only do government programs become less objective and more politically motivated, it takes on a level of entitlement and abuse that people often relish in taking advantage of. You never hear someone brag about paying their fair share of taxes, but when someone can cheat the IRS, or "double-dip," we often hear people applauding those who succeed. The "diversity" of who takes what from you or me is unpalatable.

We have differences in religious beliefs that creates a mentality of "Our God is Better than Your God." Two things you can't succeed in discussing are religion and politics. As we become more diverse, we become more divided in how we worship, in how we minister and how we promote our beliefs to those who may or may not be open to our religious ideologies.

Other negative diversities include the expression of so-called personal appearance, that including a degree of modesty as well as the appearance of residence. Clothing, (or lack of clothing in many cases), what those threads advertise or represent, or a lack of personal pride in how your house looks especially on behalf of your neighborhood can be offensive, in poor taste or simply annoying.

The very freedoms that give people the opportunity to express themselves seem to also give individuals the opportunity to abuse, offend and disregard the freedoms of others.

Unfortunately, it seems we have grown more insolent as a people. My belief is that as our government provides an abundance of "entitled" services for some, at an expense to others, we become more divided; we question our neighbors as those who either receive something at our expense, don't pull their fair share or somehow are cheating the system - and us. (How do you feel when you see a person buying candy with food stamps but somehow has enough money to be talking on their cellphone?)

This attitude expands into society, creating people who feel that the very freedom our Constitution provides gives them the right to offend or take advantage of.

While I feel that some diversity from the differences in all of us can be enriching, when others fail to respect the rights of others, we all lose.

David W. Smith is a resident of St. George.

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The ugly side of diversity

While the title of this article might be considered 'politically incorrect,' many people will agree with me ? at least to some degree ? that some diversity isn't all that great.